Safety operating mechanism.



C. R. SEYMOUR.

SAFETY OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED was, 1914.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS SHEET 1.

c.- R. SEYMOUR.

SAFETYOPERAIING MECHANISM.

APPUCATION FILED Aue.8. IBM.

' Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ITNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES R. sEYMOUR, 0F, RocHEs'rER, new YORK, ASSIGNOR TO M. B. KNOWLTON COMPANY, OF ROCHESTER, new YORK, A CORPORATION OF new YORK.

SAFETY OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919.

Application filed August 8, 1914, Serial No. 855,823.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. SEYMOUR, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Qperating Mechanism, of which the follow-j I lng 1s a specification.

This invention relates to safety operating mechanism for punching machines, presses, box staying machines and the like, and has for its Object to provide a novel safety operating mechanism of the same general type as that disclosed in the patent to Charles F. Root, No. 1,131,161, of March 9, 1915, lfJlll) having the improvements hereinafter set ort In the patent above referred to a collapsible pitman comprising two normally yielding parts is disclosed for transmitting power from an actuating means to a work-performing element, the pitman having associated therewith a shiftable element automatically actuated just prior to the engagement of the work by the work-performing element to render the normally yielding parts of the pitman rigid and non-yielding. The actuation of the shiftable element, in the aforesaid patent, is effected by means of a relatively stationary part of the construction with which the shiftableelement or cer- I tain construction associated therewith contacts during the movement of the pitman to render the pitman rigid and non-yielding just before the work-performing element of the machine acts upon the work. In the present instance, the equivalent of the shiftable element is actuated by means which is associated with the moving elements of the mechanism, and, therefore, the operating mechanism is practically self-contained, needing no stationary parts to effect the operation of the shiftable element, hereinbefore referred to. This constitutes the most important improvement over the construction disclosed in the aforesaid patent, but, as will hereinafter appear, certain other novel features exist in the present improved construction.

The main reason for employing the collapsible pitman or safety operating mechanism is to insurethe safety of the operator,

part .1 carries a sleeve 3 as theparts of the pitman will yield at all times until the work-performing element is close enough to the work to finish its stroke without doing any damage, at which time, the shiftable element will be operated to render the parts rigid and non-yielding, so that suflicient power may be transmitted from the actuating means to the work-performing element to cause the latter to' properly perform its function. If the Work-performing element comes in contact with the operators hand, or any part of his body, the partsof the pitman will, therefore, yield and the operator will be uninjured.

he invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a box staying machine showing the improved collapsible pitman applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a broken front elevation of the collapsible pitman showing the front portion thereof broken away to illustrate the internal mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the collapsible pitman, certain parts being shown in section;

Fig. 4: is a sectional view taken on the line Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3.

The improved collapsible pitman may be used in combination with numerous different machines, but to illustrate its use, it is shown in the present instance in combinatlon with a box staying machine having the usual movable pressing die or jam' A, and the stationary box-supporting die or anvil B with which said movable die cooperates in applying a stay to'a box corner. The movable die A is carried by a sliding head C, between which and the actuating shaft D, the collapsible pitman E is interposed.

The pitman comprises two relatively movable parts 1 and 2, one adapted to telescope within the other. In the present instance, the lower part, or that indicated at 2, telescopes within the upper and outer part 1. The lower part 2 is connected to the sliding head C of the staying machine, while the which encircles and two ballsin opposite directions to cause'a portion-'of-the same to engage-in the openings 8of the part 1, as bestshown in Figs.-

3 and 6.

Mounted in the upper portion of th e-part 1 is a pawl 8 carried by a short stulo shaft 9, which serves to pivotallymount the-pawl 8 on-the'part'l. The stub shaftj9 also 'carries a depending; portion or shiftable. element10, which assumes the'position: shown in Fig. -'2, when the pawl 8 is:in its raised position. When in' -such' position, the depending portion or f shiftableelement =10 contacts with the upper eXtremity 11 ofthe lower part 2 of the pitman, thereby-preventing yielding or-relative'movement of the parts l and 2. hen said shiftable element 10 is moved to the left, however, the same will-be in alinement with a cut-outportion or recess 12, provided 'in the part 2, and, therefore, parts 1 and 2, under such condi tions, are permitted to further telescope or 9 move relative to each other;

In order to facilitate assembling of'the parts, on the back of the pitman by any suitable means, such asthe screws 14. This plate permits the stub shaft 9 to be positioned, andwhen the plate is in place, a portion of the upper edge thereof constitutes a bearing for one end of'the stub shaft or pivot9. The plate 13 also carries a pro ection 15 through which a=pin16 passes, said pin being connected-at its upper end to the pawl 8. A spring .17 interposed between the projection 15' and a suitably formed shoulder 18 on the pin, serves to yieldin'gly hold the pawl 8 in" its raised position, shown in the drawings. The connection between the pawl 8 and the pin- 16is preferably such spring 17 may be readily removed,' s o,"1n-

' order to accomplish this,'thep'aw1 8 is provided with a cross-pin 19, and the upper extremity of the pin 16 is bifurcated, asshown at 20, so that the pin 19 of the pawl'rests in the 'slot formed in the bifurcated end of the pin 16. In this way,"the pin'may' be readily removed at an time the pinwill be disengaged from the cross pin 19 of the pawl. As the shiftable element or depending portion 10 moves unitarily a removable plate 13 is held in place that the pin- 16 and by simply depressing V the same, so that the bifurcated extremity off with the pawl 8, it will assume the position shown in the drawings to render the parts of the pitman rigid'when the pawl 8 is in its raised position.

Inter-posed between the actuating shaft of the staying machineand the pin 4, is a cam 22l1aving'a peripheral operative face with which the pawl 8 engages. This cam may be formed as an integral part of the actuating shaft D and the pin 4, so that as the pin moves bodily through its circular path, the

pawl 8', moving: relative to the peripheral face of the cam, will be controlled thereby. The operative face of the can-r is so formed that during the major part ofthe down stroke of the pitman, the pawl 8' will be depressed and the sh'iftable-element, 10, will ha m alinement'with the recess 12. In other words,- thepawl 8 will be in engagement with thehigh part of the can; during the major portion of the down strok'e of 'the pitman. Ifany obstruction liesin the path of the work performi ng element or-the die A, such as the operatorshand or finger, the parts 1 and '2'-will yield and themotion of part '1 will, therefore,'not be transmitted to the part 2. The strength ofthe spring 7 'issuch that theparts ljan'd Q willretahrtheir relative positionsr-ifno obstru'ction is met with. r In the present instance, the spring 7 is of such strengtlias to permit the cutter F at the rear end of thedie A, upon the descent of the pitman, to cooperate with'the stationary cutter G' and out ofi the b'ox stay, but the spring is not of suflicient strength to resist the yielding of theparts in caSe an obstruction, such as theoperators hand or the like, is encountered during the" movement 'of the pitman.

When the work performingelement or the movable die'A isabout one-eighth of an inch from: the work, the pawl 8 will encountera depression in, the cam, shown at 21, so that the spring 17 will immediately raise the pawl 8, thereby shiftin'gtheelement '10 into the-position shownin Q-anid l; As the element 10 will then contact with the upper extremity 11 of the part 2, the normally yielding. parts'1'and'2'wil'l be rendered rigid and non-yielding for the remainder of i the stroke; and thework willbe properly acted upon by'the work-performing element; The

low part of the cam 21 is of sufiicient length to p rmit the shiftable'element 10 to remain in'this position until after the work has been operated upon; On the up stroke of the pitman, theswell22 of the cam will shift the pawl S and throw the element 10 into alinement'with therecess or cutout portion 12 of thep'art '2, inwhich-position, said element will be held by the'cam until the work-performing 'element'oi'i its down stroke is again within one-eighth of an inch of thework.

The part '2 ofthe pitman preferably carries a cross-pin 23, whose extremities engage in oppositely disposed vertical slots 24 naeaesa formedin the sides of the outer member 1. On the up stroke of the pitman, the lower ends of these slots willtherefore engage with theextremities of the pin 23, and the outer member l will pick up the part 2 during the upward movement of the former. The

part 2 is, therefore, moved upwardly in a positive manner by this pin and slot construction, but, as will be obvious, this construction will not interfere with the col lapsing or yielding of the parts as hereinbefore described. Inorder to conceal the slots 24, removableclosure plates 25 are provided which are'secured to the sides ofthe part 1, preferably bymeans of the screws 26.

For the sake of neatness, the outer surface of each of these plates is preferably flush with-the corresponding side of the part 1, as will be apparent from Fig.2.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the safety pitman is practically self-contained, asno structure other than that associated directly with the moving parts ofthe mechanism, is needed to effect the actuation of the safety devices. It will also be noted that the pawl 8 cannotbe shifted to bring the element 10 over the extremity ll of the part 2 until it is the proper time for this condition to exist, to wit, when the work-performing element is about oneeighth of an inch from the work to be operated upon. The shiftable element 10 can therefore always be relied upon as being in alinement with the recess 12 duringthe down stroke of the pitman and up to the time that the work-performing element is within the desired distance of the work, and, therefore, it is impossible for the operator to become injured, if his hand, or anypart of hisbody, should lie in the path of the work-performing element.

What I claim is 1. Safety operating mechanism for operating the work-performingelement of machines of the kind described, comprising a pitman having relatively movable parts, means for actuating the same, yielding means for causing said pitman parts to move as a unit during the working stroke of the pitman, lockingmeans operative to render said parts rigid and non-yielding, and means associated with said relatively movable parts and with the actuating means therefor automatically operative near the end of each working stroke ofthe pitman and just prior to the engagement of the work by the work-performing element; to render said locking means operative.

2. Safety operating mechanism for operating the workperforming element ofmachines of the kind described, comprising a pitman having relatively movable and yielding parts, meansfor actuating the same, locking means effective in its operative position to render said parts rigid and non- &

yielding, a cam operative to maintain said locking means. in "its inoperative position during the initial movement of the pitman, but inefii'ective to maintain the locking means in such inoperative position just prior to the engagement of the work by the work performing element, and means for rendering the locking means operative.

3. Safety operating mechanism for oper ating thework performing element of machines of the kind described, comprising a pitman having relatively movable and yielding parts, means for actuating the same, locking means effective in its operative position to renderpsuch parts rigid and non yielding, means for maintaining the locking means in inoperative position during the initial movement of the pitman, and means associated with said relatively movable parts and with the actuatingmeans therefonautomatically operative nearthe end of each working stroke of the pitman and just prior to the engagement of the work by the work performing element to render said locking means operative. j

i a. The combination with a work-performing element and its actuating means, of connections between the same, yielding means to cause said connections to move as a unit during the working stroke of said element, means to render said connections rigid and non-yielding, and means associated with'the actuating means to automatically render said last-named means ineffective until and just prior to the engagement of the work by the work-performing element.

5. The combination with a work-performing element and its actuating means, of connections betweenthe same, yielding means to cause said connections to move as a unit during the working stroke of saidelement, means to render said connections rigid and non-yielding, and a cam associated with the actuating means to automatically render said last-named means ineffective until and just prior to the engagement of the work by the work-performing element.

- 6. Safety operating mechanism for operating the work-performing element of machines of the kind described, comprising a pitman having relatively movable parts, yielding means for causing said parts to move as a unit during the working strokeof the pitman, a pivoted element carriedby one of said parts adapted to be shifted to render said parts rigid and non-yielding, a cam associated with the actuating means and operative during each working stroke of the pitman to maintain the pivoted element in inoperative position until just prior to the engagement of the work by the workperforming element, and means for shifting the pivoted element to its operative position.

7. Safety operating mechanism for oper ati'ng the Work-performing element of ma-' chines of the kind described, comprising a pitmanhaving relatively movable parts;

yielding means for causing. said parts to move as a unit duringthe Working stroke: of theii pitman,v a pivoted e1ementcarried' 'byon'e of' said parts, a spring to shift the same to render said partssrigid an'd nomyielding;

and a cam operative during" each Working stroke ofthe pltman to' -prevent shrft'mg of said pivoted element until just prior to the engagementifof. the work by the Work per-' forming element;

8. Safety operating: mechanism for operating the' vvork-performing element of machines of he kind i described; comprising a pit-man having relatively -movable parts, yieldingmove as a unit' during i the Working stroke of the pitman; meansptorender Sill'd parts rigid and 'non yielding, a cam associated.

gagement' of the 'Work by the: work-perform ing element,- andmeans' foriactuating the aforementioned means to" render the mov able parts rigid andnon-yie'lding.

9 In a machine having are'ciprocatlng Work-engaging element and an anvil, means having a breakable element, means i for making :the' joint When there is free space between; the element an d anvil, and' means to automatically and positively prevent the making of the joint when the' element encounters-an obstruction extraneous tothe vvork.

' 10. 'The" combination with: a work performingelement andits actuating meansyof' a connectlon between the twowhlch 1s capa ble of being rendered operativeand inoperative, and positively acting meansfor' con trolling the action of the connectionito permit it to become operative just prior to the engagement of the Work by the WOI'kperforming element. v j

11; The combination Witha #worlGperforming element and its actua'tingmeans, of

a connectionbetween-the two'which is capa- 7 Work engaging element from the-dr1ver,and

ble ofbeingrendere'd operative and inoperative, and cant means for controlling the ac-- tion of the connection top'ermit it to become operative just prior to the Work by'the Work-performing. element.

12: The V combination with a Work-performing element and'its actuating means, of" a connection between the two which is capable of'being rendered'operative and inoperative, and positively actin'g means forre tainingthe connection inoperative untll just prior to theeng'agement of the-Work bythe Work-performing element.

13. The combination With a Work-pen forming element" and its actuating'means, of

means for Causing said parts to joint for operating thethe engagement of inoperative until 4 just prior I to the engagement of the work by Q the wont-performing element.

'14; Thevcombination with a workperforming element and its actuating element, of means capable of being renderedsoperative= and inoperative to actuat'e'rthe workperforming element, and" means associated with the aforementioned meansand with one of said elements to-retainsaid means inoperative until just-=prior to the-engagement ofthe work b y-the -worl +performing element.

:15. The combinationwith a" Work-pen forming element and its actuating-element, of means capable: of being rendered operative and inoperative to actuate the -work performing element, and" cam means associated with the aforementioned meansrand with one of saidelemen-ts to retain said meansinoperative until just rior to thawgagement ofthe work-by the-worlcperform ing element.

"16. The combination with .a reciprocating Work-performingielement and normally inoperative driving means theref0r,- of means connecting said: element-to the driving means, cam means rotated by the-driving element to control saidconnecting means to maintain the same inoperative and to allow the: same to'be' rendered} operative, and means controlled by the-movements of the Workengagingelement to actuate said connecting means to render the same operative.

17. :The combination Wltll a reciprocating work-performing element and. d riving means therefor, of means capable: ofbeing locked and unlocked for actuating the work-performing element from the driving: means, rotary cam means-l tovnormally retain the first named means unlocked; and -meane= to loclc the firstnamed' means when ther path' of e the element to-the Work is free.

- 18. The combination with a reciprocating \vork performing element and a drivevtherefor, of means capable" of being rendered operative and inoperativefor actuatingthe cam means-rotated by the driver to permit the aforementioned" means to "be rendered operative just prior to the engagement. of the work by the Work-performing element.

a 19. Ina safety device for-impartingmove ment to a reciprocating Wonk-performing member, two link connections andalocking bar therefor, andautomatic means controlled by the movements of the-member for actuatingthe locking bar to-l'ock and :unlock the links.

20. In a machine of the kind described, the combination with the actuating means and a Work-performing element, of anormally inoperative power transmitting element pivot- Signed at Rochester, in the county of Monally associated with the Work-performing eleroe, and State of New York, this 3d day of 10 ment, and means associated with and actu- August A. D. 1914?.

ated by the actuating means, automatically,

5 just prior to the engaging of the Work by CHARLES SEYMOUR the worleperforming element to permit such Witnesses: power transmitting element to shift to its H. W. SPEARES, operating position. THos. D. PATTON.

Gopies 01' this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). C. 

